Meet 8 Designers That Are Creating Sleek, Weather-Proof Furniture for Your Yacht

When it comes to superyacht furniture, wear and tear from guest use is just one challenge to keeping everything in pristine condition. The harsh conditions of a marine environment, including the 3S’s (salt, sand, and sunlight) pose the biggest trials and tribulations to outdoor furniture, while the fourth S, sunscreen, can really mess up that beautiful designer lounge in the main salon.

The problem is so acute that a number of yacht designers have expanded their portfolios from designing hulls and interiors to creating furniture that will stand the tests of weather and guests. They are using special fabrics, sustainable materials, and creative weaves in custom furniture lines that dress up the beach clubs and salons, rather than making these social areas dowdy after a season. Others are focused on the interior with vibrant designs, unusual shapes, and heirloom-quality woods.

These eight furniture lines all sport unique designs—from stunning starburst tables to lounges that float—but all have the same goal: Letting everyone put their feet up and enjoy the furniture, without the owners having to wonder later how they’ll restore everything so it looks new again.

Oceana by Bannenberg & Rowell

British studio Bannenberg & Rowell’s spring 2023 collection of outdoor yacht furniture was developed in collaboration with Sutherland Furniture and named after the Jon Bannenberg-designed 180-foot yacht Oceana. Made from teak with stainless-steel accents, the 10-strong collection of seating and tables is built to withstand high seas. “The most obvious signature across the range is that combination of a tactile radial junction with a stainless-steel dowelled-mortice and tenon-style joint,” designer Simon Rowell tells Robb Report, who then translates: “This frame is designed to look simple but still took several years to develop with the Sutherland team to engineer it into a viable product range.” An exterior textile and rug range that complements the Oceana furniture is also available from Sutherland sister company Perennials.

Sea + Shore by Silverlining

Sea + Shore is the first collection of high-performance outdoor furniture from luxury interiors brand Silverlining. Following 18 months of in-depth research and development, the range comprises five tabletop designs available in more than 200 combinations. Inspired by marine patterns and textures, the finishes include hand-shaded wood marquetry, lacquer ombré patterns, intricate two-tone lacquer work, “intaglio” etched stainless steel, and sand-carved polished cast-art glass. “The collection has been designed in response to client requests to acquire exterior furniture with the same limitless creativity, innovative craftsmanship and exemplary service as Silverlining’s interior pieces,” Silverlining’s founder Mark Boddington says.

Arc by Winch Design

Winch Design’s debut collection with Summit Furniture, called Arc, is a contemporary beach club range made from teak and inspired by the sea and sky. Its signature feature is a laminated teak weave spun between brushed stainless-steel rods to create an arc that echoes the woven rope traditionally used on sailing yachts. The eight-piece range includes a lounge chair, a dining chair, a bar chair, a coffee table, a sun lounge, a bar cart, a dining table, and an occasional table, featuring fully customizable fabric. Every natural detail is brought forward, including the teak grain on top of the coffee tables, which are manipulated into leaf patterns.

IYC + Neal Jones Furniture

British brand Neal Jones Furniture specializes in the creation of fitted and freestanding custom and semi-custom furniture for superyachts and high-end residences. In 2023, IYC partnered with Neal Jones to provide a tailored design service for yacht owners looking to dress their new builds or refit projects with hand-crafted furniture built with the marine environment in mind, from bar stools and foot stools to daybeds and lounges. “Being that one-stop-shop for all yacht purchasers and having people with the expertise in every aspect of yachts is key to our business and delights our customers,” says IYC CEO Raphael Sauleau. “Having a company like Neal Jones Furniture allows us to give our customers all the options they need to fit their yacht in the very best furniture.”

The Nimbus Collection by Coast New Zealand

Suitable for a sun deck, beach set-up, or even on the water, the Nimbus Collection by superyacht supplier Coast New Zealand is comprised of inflatable furniture suited to multiple settings. The lounge, orbit, and chair are available in customizable colors and fabrics made by Sunbrella. But beyond the looks, they are designed to be comfortable, long lasting, portable, and convenient. The air-filled liners are manufactured using fabrics and technology traditionally used for paddle boards or tenders, such as marine grade reinforced PVC with heat sealed seams (rather than glue which melts in the sun.) Marine-grade stainless ‘D’ rings are included for securing the furniture to a deck. The furniture also comes with a USB rechargeable pump and a storage bag made from recycled sails.

The Lounge Collection by Eva Mechler

Award-winning furniture designer and Master Furniture Maker Eva Mechler specializes in made-to-order wooden furniture, hand-crafted at her workshop in northern Germany. The Lounge Collection is made using solid wood left over from the building of superyachts, including European native species of oak, chestnut, ash, and walnut. The first prototypes were made from a sustainable “modified wood” called Tesumo developed by Lürssen Yachts and Wolz Nautic. Conceived as an alternative to teak and selected by the owner of REV Ocean for use on the yacht’s exterior decking, Tesumo is strong, durable, and more resistant to weathering than other woods. Mechler’s collectible art-furniture earned her a place as a finalist for the Smart Yacht Award at the Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous in 2023.

Onde by Cristiano Gatto

Driven by a desire to create fully custom furniture that matches his boats, superyacht designer Cristiano Gatto has collated his debut furniture range, called Onde. The catch: It is only available to owners of a Gatto-designed yacht, such as Heesen’s Project Orion, which is due to deliver in 2026 and features Onde furniture on board. The 12-piece range features key items from past projects, each one taking up to six months to build. “I have clients who changed their loose exterior yacht furniture four times in the past six years because off-the-shelf ranges can’t withstand the harsh marine environment,” Gatto tells Robb Report. Made from wood, stainless steel, carbon fiber, and polymeric materials, the range includes tables, chairs, sunbeds, and the most difficult item to manufacture: the basic, unassuming ottoman.

Paola Lenti 2023 Collection

The new indoor and outdoor 2023 Collections from yachting furniture stalwart Paola Lenti was unveiled by the brand during Milan Design Week, hosted at its newly unveiled flagship store. The range is made from eco-friendly materials, such as 1,000-year-old river wood which has been preserved over time by gravel, sand, and clay. There are also outdoor textiles and fine yarns for the interior pieces, all made to be wear-resistant and recyclable.